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How to Use Dataloader.io: A step by step guide

If you’re new to the world of data loading and Salesforce, fear not – Dataloader.io is here. At first glance, it can be a bit intimidating, but once you’ve gone through the motions a few times it quickly becomes your best friend.

“What exactly is Dataloader,” you might ask. Dataloader is a 100% web-based tool that uses the Force.com REST API to simplify SQQL queries and CRUD functions into Salesforce. Simply put, Dataloader allows you to import and export information on a completely secure, web-based application using your Salesforce credentials to authenticate.

We’re here to help you become your company’s SFWIZARD and our step-by-step guide to Dataloader.io, just might be the best thing since sliced bread. You’re welcome.

Go ahead and log in to dataloader.io with your Salesforce credentials and let’s migrate some data.

Okay, you’re logged in. What now?

Always, ALWAYS, ALWAYS run an export of the records you are about to modify.If you only retain one bit of information in this tutorial, running an export (i.e., BACKING UP YOUR DATA) is best practice number one. If anything should go wrong, this is your insurance! It’s also a great way to export your System IDs for so you can import data specific to fields related to individual records.

First, click New Task on the taskbar at the top of the page and select the Export option.

2. From there you’ll select a connection (typically your account login or a sandbox you’ve set up), and select the Record Type you’d like to export. In this tutorial, we’re going to export Contacts.

Click Next to proceed to the following step.

3. Select all fields we want to export data from.Here, we’ve selected First and Last Name, Full Name, Phone Number, Email, etc.

We’ve also selected a MasterRecord detail so we can identify any accounts these contacts might be related to.

You can filter the data you pull, arrange it, and search your Salesforce Instance for specific data (SOQL).

We’ll get to those specifics another time. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll just perform a standard export here. Click Next to review and prepare to export.

4. Always review the summary to make sure the data looks good – The type of export, the connection we’re using, the object containing the data we want, number of records and, if you’d like, send yourself an email once the export is complete.

5. If all looks good and we’re feeling ready, go ahead and SAVE & RUN.

If the Task page seems to be taking forever, don’t fret – Go ahead and refresh your page to update (more often than not, this page doesn’t auto update).

SUCCESS! Click the Successes link to download your exported data (CSV). You can use this data to modify other files, update records and lookup information specific to your SF records.

You can also use this file to restore data that might have been corrupted in, say, a bad sync.

Congratulations, you’ve just completed the most important step in Dataloader.io.

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